A person may shoplift an item of clothing from a department store but not be apprehended or labeled as a deviant. The person may subsequently decide to forgo such behavior in the future. This example illustrates what stage of deviance?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Primary deviance refers to the initial act of rule-breaking or deviant behavior that may not result in the individual being labeled as deviant, especially if the behavior is not discovered or is considered insignificant. This stage precedes any societal reaction or labeling.

A Person May Shoplift an Item of Clothing from a Department